Nature-Wise

• Explore human and wildlife literacies, the environment as a love story and a reason to say their names

• Engage with books that share paths for how to tap into our gifts, super-powers, and “somebodiness” as Dr. King explained, to explore our place in the natural world

• Engage with books that help students get hooked on reading and writing and the exploration of a variety of literacies

• Introduction to children’s literature on the environment and artistic responses to stories

• Explore and respond to stories of “belonging” in nature

• Explore the power of poetry to articulate feelings and observations about the environment

• Meet local, national, and global environmental champions through books and online resources

• Explore and evaluate wildlife (colors, shapes, patterns, textures, and behaviors of plants, animals, waterways, and humans) in our school and home neighborhoods; Create a neighborhood nature encyclopedia

• Address fears about being outside and about various forms of wildlife

• Create and play vocabulary games based on books and other literature

• Write class and individual letters to authors and environmental champions

• Create interview questions for environmental champions and authors

• Create artwork inspired by stories and the work of environmental champions